Flexible hose wire payout system

ABSTRACT

A flexible hose wire payout system is provided to protect guidance wires during the launch and guidance phases of wireguided torpedoes. The entire flexible hose system is mounted in the torpedo tube so that when the torpedo is launched the hose is deployed and breaks away when it is entirely dispensed. After breaking away, the free end of the hose sinks to and remains at a position below the submarine, allowing the guidance wire thereafter to be dispensed through the hose and permitting considerably increased submarine maneuvering.

llte ttes Lemieux 51 Nov. 28, 1972 [54] FLEXIBLE HOSE PAYOUT SYSTEM [72]Inventor: Thomas H. Lemieux, N. Dartmouth,

Mass.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Navy [22] Filed: July 15, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 55,122

[52] US. Cl. ..114/21 R [51] Int. Cl ..F42b 19/01, F42b 19/06, F42b19/10 [58] Field of Search ..114/21, 20, 238; 244/63;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/ 1966 Hollingsworth, Jr.et

al. ..1 14/21 R 3,158,124 11/1964 Chevillon ..1l4/21R PrimaryExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt Assistant ExaminerThomas H. Webb AttorneyRS. Sciascia, L. I. Shrago and C. E. Vautrain, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A flexible hose wire payout system is provided to protectguidance wires during the launch and guidance phases of wire-guidedtorpedoes. The entire flexible hose system is mounted in the torpedotube so that when the torpedo is launched the hose is deployed andbreaks away when it is entirely dispensed. After breaking away, the freeend of the hose sinks to and remains at a position below the submarine,allowing the guidance wire thereafter to be dispensed through the hoseand permitting considerably increased submarine maneuvering.

3. i fl a @l'i f l n ilgllfii PATENTEUnuvza m2 SHEET 2 0F 2 3. 703, 874

FIGw?) THOMAS H. LEMIEUX FLEXIBLE HOSE WIRE PAYOUT SYSTEM The inventiondescribed herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Governmentof the United States of America for governmental purposes without thepayment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention concerns wire protection means and, moreparticularly, a system for protecting guidance wire during payout fromtorpedo tubes.

Wire guidance techniques have increased the effectiveness of torpedoesconsiderably, permitting control of torpedoes until the instant when itis no longer feasible to continue their remote control. Present 'wireguidance methods utilize a bare wire payout system which limits thesubmarine to very low speeds during the launch phase and prohibitsmaneuvering during the torpedo guidance phase. The wire is likely to bemoved about in any direction due to water flow near the bow of thesubmarine caused by ship motion or turbulence from the torpedopropellers. These conditions may result in the wire becoming fouledabout the torpedo or the submarine, or becoming snagged sufficiently toresult in it being snapped, among other deficiencies. The presentinvention provides a unique method of and means for protecting theguidance wire from damage during both payout from forward pointedsubmarine torpedo tubes and subsequent maneuvering of the submarine andthe torpedo. The invention is applicable to all submarines and allwire-guided torpedoes.

The present invention includes the addition of a flexible hose system towire-guided torpedo payout systems. The guidance wire from the torpedois spliced to the wire from the shipboard wire dispenser at the end of aflexible hose which hose is then connected to the torpedo. The entireflexible hose system is then mounted in the torpedo tube so that whenthe torpedo is launched the hose is deployed from its dispenser. Whenthe hose is fully dispensed by the torpedo, it breaks away from thetorpedo and sinks to a position below the submarine. The guidance wireis then dispensed through the hose from the shipboard coil.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideprotection for the guidance wire in wireguided torpedo systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide protective means fortorpedo guidance wire which means permit increased maneuvering of boththe submarine and the torpedo.

A further object of the invention is to provide a protective means fortorpedo guidance wire which is adaptable for use with all submarines andall wireguided torpedoes.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description thereof whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which likenumerals represent like parts throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1a is a schematic view of one embodiment of the invention duringlaunch of the torpedo;

FIG. lb is a schematic view of the embodiment of FIG. 1a afterdeployment of the protective means;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view partly in section of the protectivemeans installed in a torpedo tube; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional front elevation view of a component of theinvention appearing in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1a, there is shown the forward end of a submarine 11having a torpedo tube 12 therein and a torpedo 13 in a position duringlaunch thereof. Torpedo tube 12 accommodates at its aft end a combinedflexible hose and guidance wire dispenser 14 for dispensing a flexiblehose 15 which encloses and carries with it a torpedo guidance wire 16. Atorpedo A-cable 1'7 and socket means 18 therefor are also shown. FIG. lbillustrates the deployment of flexible hose 15 after torpedo 13 hasentered the medium and has drawn hose 15 completely from dispenser 14.

FIG. 2 illustrates the dispenser 14 and related components installed intorpedo tube 12 prior to launching of the torpedo. Dispenser 14 isprovided at its aft end with a quick disconnect fitting 20 whichtraverses a breech door 21 and a wire severing and hose releasemechanism 22 for freeing the submarine of both the wire and the hose atthe end of a torpedo run or on detonation at a target. Dispenser 14 ismounted on a base 23 which is secured to a torpedo tube roller 24 by aclamp 25 having a stationary jaw 26 and a movable jaw 27. Acommunication wire, not shown, is spliced to guidance wire 16 in aconventional manner, the guidance wire then traversing fitting 20 andentering dispenser 14 through an opening in the rear thereof, not shown.Flexible hose l5 terminates in a hose insert 30 which is severablyconnected to a torpedo fairlead 31 by a shear screw 32. Fairlead 31forms a conduit through which guidance wire 16 passes to a terminal inthe torpedo 13 by a removable plug 33 and is held in position by a cam34 and a locking means 35.

In FIG. 3, the manner in which flexible hose 15 and guidance wire 16 arestowed in dispenser 14 is shown, wire 16 being contained in an innerdrum 36 with one end led through a guide tube 38 into hose 15. The otherend of guidance wire 16 is passed through an orifice, not shown, in therear panel of retainer 14 and through fitting 20 to the point ofsplicing to the shipboard communication wire. Flexible hose 15preferably is made of stainless steel although it could be made of othermetal, plastic or rubber and is coiled as shown in an outer cylindricalchamber 39, the turns being held in place until just before use byrestraining cords 40 shown in FIG. 2. I

Wire severing and hose release mechanism 22 includes a piston 41 whichis actuated by compressed gas from a C0 cartridge 42, the compressed gaspassing through a copper tube 43 to fitting 20 and from there through anylon tube 44 and a second fitting 45 to the piston expansion chamber.Piston 41 is connected by a piston stem 46 to a cutter 47 which in turnis connected by a linkage screw 48 to a restraining means 49.Restraining means 49 releasably restrains a hose collar 50 which issecured to one end of flexible hose 15.

In operation, the dispenser 14 is received with both hose 15 andguidance wire 16 installed therein, the guidance wire traversing thelength of hose 15 and exiting the hose through hose insert 30. Thepayout end of the guidance wire is spliced to the submarinecommunication wire. One end of the flexible hose 15 is secured withindispenser 14 by restraining means 49 while the other end is equippedwith insert 30 for attachment to torpedo fairlead 31. At torpedo launch,A-cable 17 is disconnected and as the torpedo moves out of tube 12 hose15 is drawn from cylindrical chamber 39. When hose 15 is at full length,tension is exerted on shear screw 32 due to the opposite end of the hosebeing held securely by collar 50 in hose restraining means 49. Theshearing of shear screw 32 separates the hose from the torpedo, allowingthis end of the hose to sink beneath the keel of the submarine asindicated in FIG. lb. The weight and drag of hose 15 causes the hose totrail a sufficient distance from the hull of the submarine to preventthe communication-guidance wire from becoming snagged on or damaged bythe submarine.

During maneuvering of submarine 11 and torpedo l3, freedom thus isassured for considerable course and depth changes without the usualsnagging or entanglement of the communication-guidance wire with thesubmarine. When the torpedo reaches its target and detonates, or whenthe end of a run is reached, guidance wire 16 and hose 15 are separatedby the release of compressed gas from CO cartridge 42. This release ofgas causes linear movement of piston 41 which, being connected to bothcutter 47 and restraining means 49, causes substantially simultaneouscutting of wire 16 and release of collar 50 at the end of hose 15. Aftersuch cutting and release, hose 15 is pulled clear of the torpedo tube bywater drag. No attempt presently is made to recover either guidance wire16 or hose 15.

It will thus be appreciated that a protective means is provided whichassures much greater safety for torpedo guidance wire 16 and yet isaccomplished in a simplified manner by equipment which may be installedby ship personnel in any torpedo tube and used with any wire-guidetorpedo. The retainer and its attached mechanisms are reusable andnormally are returned to a refurbishing activity for replenishment ofhose l and guidance wire 16.

The present submarine wire payout system provides the submarine withcapabilities not heretofore possible. Through use of this system,torpedoes may be launched in both the impulse and swim-out modes andthereafter the launching submarine can maneuver in turns, speed changesand depth excursions.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. For example, alternatemethods of mounting the torpedo tube such as utilizing mine spider slotsin the tube breech or drill holes in the tube lands may be employed Whatis claimed is: l. A device for dispensing torpedo guidance wire and aprotective covering therefor form a torpedo tube comprising:

a composite cylindrical container disposed in said torpedo tube andhaving an outer compartment containing a flexible hose and an innercompartment containing a wire which traverses said flexible hose, saidcontainer being fully closed at one end and partially closed at theopposite end;

one end of said hose releasably terminating in a retainer means disposedat said closed end of said cylinder;

tubular guide means on said closed end connected to said retainer meansat one end and centrally attached to said closed end at its other endfor leading said guidance wire from the interior of said container intosaid flexible hose; and

a wire cutting and hose release means positioned on said closed end forfreeing said container from said wire and said hose, said flexible hosebeing severably connected to 5 said torpedo and releasably connected tosaid submarine, said guidance wire being severably connected to saidsubmarine and nonseverably connected to said torpedo,

whereby, upon launching, said torpedo will draw out said hose and saidwire, said hose being severed at said torpedo when its full length hasbeen drawn out, thereafter trailing along the hull of said submarinewhile further guidance wire is payed out. 2. The device as defined inclaim 1 wherein said flexible hose is mounted in said container withsaid guidance wire inserted therein, said guidance wire being containedin an enclosed chamber and fed into said hose through said tubular guidemeans,

said torpedo tube sealed by a breech door, said wire cutting and hoserelease means actuated by compressed gas from a source exterior to saidtorpedo tube, and said guidance wire traversing a compressed gas conduitin said breech door. 3. A device for dispensing wire communicating withan object to be controlled from a vessel and a protec- 30 tive coveringfor said wire comprising:

a communication wire on said vessel connected thereto and to said objectand means on said vessel for dispensing said wire therefrom; and aflexible hose on said vessel and means on said vessel for dispensingsaid flexible hose therefrom; said communication wire extending throughsaid hose in said hose dispensing means,

one end of said hose being releasably held in said hose dispensingmeans,

the other end of said hose being severably connected to said object,

whereby as said object and said vessel diverge, said wire will draw saidhose from said hose dispensing means until it is fully extendedwhereupon said wire will be severed from said hose, permitting thebalance of said wire to be selectively drawn from said wire dispensingmeans through said hose, said hose trailing said vessel and protectingthe communication wire therefrom.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said communication wiredispensing means and said flexible hose dispensing means are concentricdrums with the wire wound on the inner drum,

55 the outer drum for said hose being open at one end to facilitatedispensing of the hose,

the inner drum for said wire being substantially closed at both ends;and

a tube connecting the closed end of the outer drum with the adjacentcentral area of the inner drum, said communication wire being led intosaid flexible hose through said connecting tube.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 and further including a collarsecured to said one end of said hose and a collar retainer secured tosaid dispensing means for releasably connecting said hose to saidvessel;

a coupling secured to said other end of said hose; and

a shear screw severably connecting said coupling to said object.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 and further including means in saiddispensing means for substantially simultaneously severing saidcommunication wire and releasing said flexible hose.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 wherein said severing and releasingmeans includes a wire cutter disposed adjacent the wire entry end ofsaid tube and means for actuating said collar retainer.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said vessel is a submarineand said object is a torpedo,

said torpedo being disposed in a torpedo tube in said

1. A device for dispensing torpedo guidance wire and a protectivecovering therefor form a torpedo tube comprising: a compositecylindrical container disposed in said torpedo tube and having an outercompartment containing a flexible hose and an inner compartmentcontaining a wire which traverses said flexible hose, said containerbeing fully closed at one end and partially closed at the opposite end;one end of said hose releasably terminating in a retainer means disposedat said closed end of said cylinder; tubular guide means on said closedend connected to said retainer means at one end and centrally attachedto said closed end at its other end for leading said guidance wire fromthe interior of said container into said flexible hose; and a wirecutting and hose release means positioned on said closed end for freeingsaid container from said wire and said hose, said flexible hose beingseverably connected to said torpedo and releasably connected to saidsubmarine, said guidance wire being severably connected to saidsubmarine and nonseverably connected to said torpedo, whereby, uponlaunching, said torpedo will draw out said hose and said wire, said hosebeing severed at said torpedo when its full length has been drawn out,thereafter trailing along the hull of said submarine while furtherguidance wire is payed out.
 2. The device as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid flexible hose is mounted in said container with said guidance wireinserted therein, said guidance wire being contained in an enclosedchamber and fed into said hose through said tubular guide means, saidtorpedo tube sealed by a breech door, said wire cutting and hose releasemeans actuated by compressed gas from a source exterior to said torpedotube, and said guidance wire traversing a compressed gas conduit in saidbreech door.
 3. A device for dispensing wire communicating with anobject to be controlled from a vessel and a protective covering for saidwire comprising: a communication wire on said vessel connected theretoand to said object and means on said vessel for dispensing said wiretherefrom; and a flexible hose on said vessel and means on said vesselfor dispensing said flexible hose therefrom; said communication wireextending through said hose in said hose dispensing means, one end ofsaid hose being releasably held in said hose dispensing means, the otherend of said hose being severably connected to said object, whereby assaid object and said vessel diverge, said wire will draw said hose fromsaid hose dispensing means until it is fully extended whereupon saidwire will be severed from said hose, permitting the balance of said wireto be selectively drawn from said wire dispensing means through saidhose, said hose trailing said vessel and protecting the communicationwire therefrom.
 4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein saidcommunication wire dispensing means and said flexible hose dispensingmeans are concentric drums with the wire wound on the inner drum, theouter drum for said hose being open at one end to facilitate dispensingof the hose, the inner drum for said wire being substantially closed atboth ends; and a tube connecting the closed end of the outer drum withthe adjacent central area of the inner drum, said communication wirebeing led into said flexible hose through said connecting tube.
 5. Thedevice as defined in claim 4 and further including a collar secured tosaid one end of said hose and a collar retainer secured to saiddispensing means for releasably connecting said hose to said vessel; acoupling secured to said other end of said hose; and a shear screwseverably connecting said coupling to said object.
 6. The device asdefined in claim 5 and further including means in said dispensing meansfor substantially simultaneously severing said communication wire andreleasing said flexible hose.
 7. The device as defined in claim 6wherein said severing and releasing means includes a wire cutterdisposed adjacent the wire entry end of said tube and means foractuating said collar retainer.
 8. The device as defined in claim 7wherein said vessel is a submarine and said object is a torpedo, saidtorpedo being disposed in a torpedo tube in said vessel, said torpedotube being sealed at one end by a breech door; said wire cutter and saidactuating means being operated by a piston, said piston being disposedin a piston chamber secured to said dispensing means and actuable bycompressed gas; a compressed gas source disposed outside said breechdoor; and gas conduits connecting said piston chamber to said gassource.